Game device having improved slide-operation-driven user interface

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising program code that, when executed, causes an information processing apparatus including a display unit configured to display a game content, a storage unit configured to store information comprising an association of a process executable on the game content and a particular direction, and an operation unit to execute steps of:

storing, in a storing step, in the storage unit, the association of the process executable on the game content and the particular direction;

following the storing step, receiving, on the operation unit, a first input operation of a user provided at a start point and comprising a selection of a game content;

following the first input operation of the user, receiving, on the operation unit, a second input operation of the user provided at an end point other than the start point;

determining, based on a position of the start point and a position of the end point, a user input vector between the start point and the end point;

determining, with the operation unit, whether or not to execute the process executable on the game content and the particular direction based on a step of determining whether the user input vector exceeds a trigger threshold, wherein the step of determining whether the user input vector exceeds the trigger threshold comprises at least one of: determining an angle between the user input vector and the particular direction and determining whether the angle is smaller than a predetermined angle, and determining a length of the user input vector that extends in the particular direction and determining whether the length is larger than a predetermined length;

when the trigger threshold is determined not to have been exceeded by the user input vector, canceling execution of the process executable on the game content; and

when execution of the process executable on the game content is not canceled, executing the process executable on the game content.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the first input operation of the user and the second input operation of the user are provided as part of a continuous slide operation between the start point and the end point.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein the continuous slide operation has at least a first component defined between the start point and an intermediate point and a second component defined between the intermediate point and an end point.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 3 , wherein the user input vector is defined directly between the start point and the end point and does not pass through the intermediate point.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, following the first user operation and prior to the second user operation, a designation of an intermediate point, and

further canceling execution of the process executable on the game content in a case wherein there is at least a predetermined degree of difference in angle between a direction between the start point and the intermediate point and the user input vector between the start point and the end point.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, following the second user operation, a designation of a third point, wherein the user input vector between the start point and the end point provides a first component of a user slide operation between the start point and the third point; and

further canceling execution of the process executable on the game content in a case where the third point is within a predetermined distance of the start point.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the trigger threshold is provided as one end of a range on the display unit; and

wherein the step of determining whether or not to execute the process executable on the game content further comprises determining whether the user input vector falls into the range.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the storing step further comprises storing, in the storage unit, an association of a second process executable on the game content and the particular direction;

wherein a second trigger threshold is associated with the second process, said second trigger process provided as a second end of the range on the display unit; and

further canceling execution of the process executable on the game content, and executing the second process executable on the game content, when the second trigger threshold is determined to have been exceeded by the user input vector.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a prediction of a result of executing the process executable on the game content prior to a step of canceling execution of the process executable on the game content.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein displaying the prediction is executed following the first input operation of the user and prior to the second input operation of the user.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first input operation of the user and the second input operation of the user are provided as part of a continuous slide operation between the start point and the end point further including an intermediate point; and

wherein the prediction is displayed upon the continuous slide operation reaching the intermediate point.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the intermediate point is defined, by the operation unit, at a point at least a predetermined distance from the start point, wherein the predetermined distance is a function of a distance between the start point and the trigger threshold.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein displaying the prediction comprises:

selecting, from a plurality of processes executable on the game content, a process having a highest probability of intended execution by the user; and

displaying the prediction of the result of execution of the process having the highest probability of intended execution by the user.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising

determining that a predetermined time has elapsed after the prediction is displayed; and

after the predetermined time has elapsed, stopping display of the prediction.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the process executable on the game content is a process of generating a new game content, and wherein the prediction provides a visualization of the new game content that would be generated if the process executable on the game content were executed.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the process executable on the game content is a modification of an existing game content, and wherein the prediction provides a visualization of at least one adjustment to be made as part of the modification if the process executable on the game content were executed.

17. A control method for a game configured to be executed by an information processing apparatus including a display unit configured to display a game content, a storage unit configured to store information comprising an association of a process executable on the game content and a particular direction, and an operation unit, wherein the control method comprises steps of:

storing, in a storing step, in the storage unit, the association of the process executable on the game content and the particular direction;

following the storing step, receiving, on the operation unit, a first input operation of a user provided at a start point and comprising a selection of a game content;

following the first input operation of the user, receiving, on the operation unit, a second input operation of the user provided at an end point other than the start point;

determining, based on a position of the start point and a position of the end point, a user input vector between the start point and the end point;

determining, with the operation unit, whether or not to execute the process executable on the game content and the particular direction based on a step of determining whether the user input vector exceeds a trigger threshold, wherein the step of determining whether the user input vector exceeds the trigger threshold comprises at least one of: determining an angle between the user input vector and the particular direction and determining whether the angle is smaller than a predetermined angle, and determining a length of the user input vector that extends in the particular direction and determining whether the length is larger than a predetermined length;

when the trigger threshold is determined not to have been exceeded by the user input vector, canceling execution of the process executable on the game content; and

when execution of the process executable on the game content is not canceled, executing the process executable on the game content.

18. The control method of claim 17 , wherein the first input operation of the user and the second input operation of the user are provided as part of a continuous slide operation between the start point and the end point, wherein the continuous slide operation has at least a first component defined between the start point and an intermediate point and a second component defined between the intermediate point and an end point.

19. An information processing apparatus including a display unit configured to display a game content, a storage unit configured to store information comprising an association of a process executable on the game content and a particular direction, and an operation unit, said information processing apparatus configured to execute steps of:

storing, in a storing step, in the storage unit, the association of the process executable on the game content and the particular direction;

following the storing step, receiving, on the operation unit, a first input operation of a user provided at a start point and comprising a selection of a game content;

following the first input operation of the user, receiving, on the operation unit, a second input operation of the user provided at an end point other than the start point;

determining, based on a position of the start point and a position of the end point, a user input vector between the start point and the end point;

determining, with the operation unit, whether or not to execute the process executable on the game content and the particular direction based on a step of determining whether the user input vector exceeds a trigger threshold, wherein the step of determining whether the user input vector exceeds the trigger threshold comprises at least one of: determining an angle between the user input vector and the particular direction and determining whether the angle is smaller than a predetermined angle, and determining a length of the user input vector that extends in the particular direction and determining whether the length is larger than a predetermined length;

when the trigger threshold is determined not to have been exceeded by the user input vector, canceling execution of the process executable on the game content; and

when execution of the process executable on the game content is not canceled, executing the process executable on the game content.

20. The information processing apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the first input operation of the user and the second input operation of the user are provided as part of a continuous slide operation between the start point and the end point, wherein the continuous slide operation has at least a first component defined between the start point and an intermediate point and a second component defined between the intermediate point and an end point.